Everett Osborne, Ted Thompson, Fred Lunt, Harry Parks and Sherwood Kelso, left to right, lay final plans for Shriners Day. More than 800 Shriners and their wives were expected to be on hand. (File photo 1968)

Everett Osborne, Ted Thompson, Fred Lunt, Harry Parks and Sherwood Kelso, left to right, lay final plans for Shriners Day. More than 800 Shriners and their wives were expected to be on hand. (File photo 1968)

Presque Isle area From our Files (week of August 8, 2018)

15 cents for one tomato -- The writer paid 15 cents for one tomato, while they’re 3 for 10 cents.

101 Years Ago – Aug. 9, 1917

15 cents for one tomato — The writer paid 15 cents for one tomato, while they’re 3 for 10 cents. It weighed one-half a pound. That was precisely the same amount the same person paid for the first pear purchased by that person years ago in the village. Tomatoes were seldom seen then.

Helping out — Mr. C. F. West of the Star-Herald force went to Grand Falls and remained several days helping the folks in that city straighten out some kinks which had gotten into the electric light and water system on account of careless management.

McGowan heads NCO Club — The non-commissioned officers’ club, better known as the “House of Chevrons,” held their regular monthly meeting in the new wing of the club house Aug. 5. By a majority vote, Master Sergeant Francis W. McGowan, who held the position of vice-president was elected president and First Sergeant Don Fuller was chosen vice-president. Corporal George Pylant was chosen secretary-treasurer by president McGowan.

50 Years Ago – Aug. 7, 1968

Briggs returns — Aubrey W. Briggs, executive director of the Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce, returned after attending a course in “Institute Principles of Management,” at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. Briggs was one of 400 management personnel from the northeast who participated in 30 hours of courses during the week.

Traffic lights — The improvement program cost Presque Isle in excess of $10,000, its share of the total cost, and the state paid 60 percent. City manager Dana F. Connors said the system included the erection of aluminum poles, with the exception of the intersections at Park and Main and State and Main Streets. The state recommended that the city install overhanging lights, or span-wire installations, at these two sites. Pedestrian signal lights were placed at the intersections where the current signals were located.

25 Years Ago – Aug. 11, 1993

Porter retires — After 10 years of greeting the public with a friendly smile and a willingness to assist them in any number of municipal duties, Presque Isle city clerk Jean Porter said goodbye. One of the more significant changes Porter had seen in Presque Isle during her 10 years as city clerk was an increase in the amount of public involvement both in city affairs and in elections. Technical advances, such as new voting machines and computers to store records of all sorts, had streamlined the job and made it more efficient

Champion Potato Grower — Maysville Farms Inc. of Presque Isle, operated by Brandon and Bruce Roope, earned the title of 1993 McCain Foods Champion Potato Grower for Maine. The 1993 champion was one of 10 top potato growers honored at festivities hosted by McCain Foods. Brandon Roope, accepting the award from Maysville Farms, received an all-expense-paid vacation for two to the Bahamas, a cash award and a trophy. Brent Flewelling of Easton finished second in the annual competition.

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